U.S. patent number 5,462,473 [Application Number 08/269,570] was granted by the patent office on 1995-10-31 for toy with slow movement recovery.
Invention is credited to Ken Sheller.
United States Patent |
5,462,473 |
Sheller |
October 31, 1995 |
Toy with slow movement recovery
Abstract
Various toys simulating animal characters have appendages with
inserts therein which produce slow return motion of the appendages
from positions to which they have been deformed to simulate a
natural movement or gesture. The inserts each includes an elongate,
tubular, resiliently compressible air bags with an impermeable (air
tight), skin of plastic or rubber, penetrated by a slow leak valve
formed as a small hole and stuffed with resiliently compressible
synthetic fiber or foam. In one example the air bag is located in
the body of a doll to extend across the chest and along respective
arms, whereby a child can deform the arms between open and closed
positions, compressing the air bag so that the resiliency returns
the arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a
simulated natural gesture of affection such as giving or requesting
a hug.
Inventors: |
Sheller; Ken (New York,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23027816 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/269,570 |
Filed: |
July 1, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/183; 446/486;
D21/658 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
3/06 (20130101); A63H 3/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
3/36 (20060101); A63H 3/06 (20060101); A63H
3/00 (20060101); A63H 003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;446/199,188,183,184,190,197,198,368,180,213,176,390,226,486 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Copy of Packaging for Krusher (.TM.) Toy manufactured by Mattel,
Calif. in 1979. .
Copy of Packaging for Dino-Roarr (.TM.) Toy Brontosaurus Sold By
Fisher-Price 1992..
|
Primary Examiner: Yu; Mickey
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Usher; Robert W. J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A life-size huggable doll having a body comprising a porous,
soft, cloth like fabric covering a soft stuffing, the body
including a flexible pair of arms extending from a chest portion in
one of open and closed positions, a slow return motion producing
insert comprising an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible
air bag with a slow leak means and mounted in the body to extend
across the chest and along respective arms, whereby a child can
deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing
the air bag and the resiling action of which returns said arms
slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated
natural gesture of affection.
2. A doll according to claim 1 wherein the air bag comprises an
impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam.
3. A doll according to claim 1 wherein the air bag is of U-shape in
undeformed condition, locating the arms extending together forward
from the chest so that the arms can be deformed by a child to an
open position extended outwardly away from each other from opposite
sides of the chest and will return relatively slowly producing a
simulated hugging gesture.
4. A doll according to claim 1 wherein the air bag may be straight
in undeformed condition, locating the arms extending outwardly,
away from each other from opposite sides of the chest so that the
arms can be deformed by a child to a position extending together,
in front of the chest and will return relatively slowly, moving
apart simulating a gentle request for a hug and an expression of
love.
5. A toy character comprising an appendage which extends from a
body portion and which is flexible for movement by a child relative
to the body portion between bent and extended positions, a slow
return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an
elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag
comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently
compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned from the body
portion inside and along the appendage, whereby flexure of said
appendage from one of the positions to the other of the positions
compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air bag
causes slow motion return movement of said appendage to one of the
positions thereby producing a simulated natural movement.
6. A toy character having a form of a doll including a flexible
pair of arms extending from a chest and which are flexible for
movement by a child between bent, closed and extended, open
positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting
essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently
compressible air bag with slow leak means, mounted to extend across
and inside the chest and along and inside respective arms with
repective opposite ends of the air bag exposed and formed as
respective hands, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of
the positions to another, compressing the air bag, the resiling
action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position
while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.
7. A toy character having a form of an elephant comprising a trunk
which is flexible for movement by a child between bent and extended
positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting
essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently
compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with
resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned at
least partly inside the trunk, whereby flexure of said trunk from
one of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the
air bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion
return movement of said trunk to one of the positions thereby
producing a simulated natural gesture being one of a trunk
uncoiling and coiling.
8. A toy character having a form of a dinosaur comprising an
appendage having a form of a tail which is flexible for movement by
a child between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion
producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow,
tubular, resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable
skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak
means, positioned at least partly inside the tail, whereby flexure
of said tail from one of the positions to the other of the
positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air
bag causes slow motion return movement of said tail to one of the
positions thereby producing a simulated natural gesture being one
of a tail uncoiling and coiling.
9. A toy character having a form of a dinosaur comprising an
appendage which is a mouth, flexible for movement by a child
between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing
insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular,
resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin
stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means,
positioned to extend inside upper and lower jaws, whereby flexure
of said mouth from one of the positions to the other of the
positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air
bag causes slow motion return movement of said jaws to one of the
positions thereby producing a simulated natural gesture being one
of a mouth opening and closing.
10. A toy character having a form of one of a dog and bunny and
comprising an ear which is flexible for movement by a child between
bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing insert
consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently
compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with
resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned at
least partly inside the ear, whereby flexure of said ear from one
of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the air
bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion
return movement of said ear to one of the positions thereby
producing a simulated natural gesture being one of an ear uncoiling
and coiling.
11. A toy character having a head, and a body comprising a porous,
soft, cloth like fabric covering a soft stuffing, the body
including a flexible pair of arms extending from a chest portion in
one of open and closed positions, a slow return motion producing
insert comprising an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible
air bag with a slow leak means and mounted in the body to extend
across the chest and along respective arms, whereby a child can
deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing
the air bag and the resiling action of which returns said arms
slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated
natural gesture of affection.
12. A toy character including a head and a pair of arms extending
from a chest, the arms being flexible for movement by a child
between bent, closed and extended, open positions, a slow return
motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate,
narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with slow leak
means, mounted to extend across and inside the chest and along and
inside respective arms with respective opposite ends of the air bag
exposed and formed as respective hands, whereby a child can deform
the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air
bag, the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an
undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of
affection.
13. A toy character including a head and arms extending from a main
body portion which arms are flexible for movement by a child
between bent, closed and extended, open positions, a slow return
motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate,
narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with slow leak
means, mounted to extend across and inside the main body portion
and along and inside respective arms, whereby a child can deform
the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air
bag, the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an
undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of
affection.
14. A doll having a body comprising a porous, soft, cloth like
fabric covering a soft stuffing, the body including a flexible pair
of arms extending from a chest portion in one of open and closed
positions, a slow return motion producing insert comprising an
elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with a slow
leak means and mounted in the body to extend across the chest and
along respective arms, whereby a child can deform the arms from one
of the positions to another, compressing the air bag and the
resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed
position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to toy characters or dolls which can simulate
a natural gesture of affection by slow movement recovery,
particularly an arm movement, offering or requesting a hug which is
emotionally satisfying to a young child.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been desired to provide toy characters producing
life-like movements or gestures. U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,402 issued
Apr. 15, 1958 to Schleich and U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,336 issued Oct.
2, 1979 to Kuhn disclose two prior attempts utilizing slow movement
recovery.
The former teaches that the entire toy should be manufactured of
solid material having retarded resiliency, while the latter
reference teaches filling an elastic skin with a highly viscous
liquid such as corn syrup.
However, both prior approaches result in dense structures so that a
life-size or huggable size doll is not sufficiently light to be
carried easily, if at all, by a small child. In addition, as a
result of their skin texture and firmness, such dolls do not have
huggable, soft or cuddly qualities necessary to provide comfort to
a small child.
Another approach, a toy known as KRUSHAR (Trademark), shown in FIG.
1, and manufactured by Mattel, California in 1979, comprises an
animal monster character or figure having a resilient air tight
skin of vinyl and stuffed completely with resiliently compressible,
open cell foam. A valve mechanism is mounted in the back of the
figure and adjustable between a rapid leak condition in which the
toy is intended to be crushed by a child, to a slow leak condition,
in which the figure restores itself slowly as a whole to an erect
position, in an attempt to provide a degree of animation.
Although the resulting figure is much less dense and can therefore
be made in larger sizes, it is still undesirably heavy and, as the
entire body must be impervious, cannot be made of a porous, cloth
like fabric which is soft to the touch so as to comfort and please
a young child. Furthermore, individual limb movement cannot be
controlled to provide the slow recovery necessary to produce
life-like gestures, only restorative movement of the entire figure
is practicable. In addition, it is relatively difficult for a child
to completely crush the figure to maximize the restorative movement
as the figure must be pushed against the ground or table top
requiring an extreme effort by the child.
A known sounding toy DINO-ROARRRRR (Trademark), shown in FIG. 2,
manufactured and sold by Fisher Price 1992, has the form of a
dinosaur and includes an air bag 6 filled with resilient plastic
foam concealed within the body region and which incorporates a slow
leak valve directing air across a sounding reed 7 associated with a
resonating tube to produce a long period of sound during
restoration after squeezing. Although the toy is designed solely
for producing a sound by gently squeezing, the air bag extends
between the torso and the root of the tail so that a relatively
large force applied in the precise direction shown by the arrow
deforming the toy to the position shown by broken lines to crush
the torso against the tail, will also result in a recovery which,
although initially fast, may be relatively slow only in latter
stages, when the toy has almost restored to the fully erect
position. However, such crushing is not the normal use of the toy
and, particularly as the air bag is relatively fat and is deeply
inserted into the body completely surrounded by stuffing and
isolated from the appendages, it would be physically difficult to
fold, (again requiring forcing against the ground or a table top),
so that any significant effect could not be achieved on a reliable
basis by young children. Furthermore, the action would be
unnaturally destructive, even repugnant, for a young child with an
affectionate response in mind as perceived as hurting the toy and
would be destroying the make-believe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a toy character capable
of slow movement recovery so that it can simulate a natural gesture
of affection, particularly requesting or giving a hug, by return
movement of a body part flexed by a young child, thereby satisfying
a young child's gentler emotional needs.
According to the invention, a life-size huggable doll has a body
comprising a porous, soft, cloth like fabric covering a soft
stuffing, the body including a flexible pair of arms extending from
a chest portion in one of open and closed positions, a slow return
motion producing insert comprising an elongate, tubular,
resiliently compressible air bag with a slow leak means and mounted
in the body to extend across the chest and along respective arms,
whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to
another, compressing the air bag, the resiling action of which
returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing
a simulated natural gesture of affection.
More particularly, the air bag comprises an impermeable skin
stuffed with resiliently compressible foam. The air bag may be of
U-shape in undeformed condition, locating the arms extending
together forward from the chest so that the arms can be deformed by
a child to an open position extending outwardly away from each
other from opposite sides of the chest and will return relatively
slowly producing a simulated hugging gesture.
Alternatively, the air bag may be straight in undeformed condition,
locating the arms extending outwardly, away from each other from
opposite sides of the chest so that the arms can be deformed
forwards by a child to a position extending together in front of
the chest and will return relatively slowly, moving apart
simulating a gentle request for a hug and showing the child how
much the doll loves the child.
It will be appreciated that a doll incorporating the insert is
sufficiently light to be made in life-like sizes and still be
handled by a young child while the slow return motion producing
insert is of very simple, highly reliable construction, virtually
undetectable when installed, and inexpensive to manufacture.
The force required to deform the doll is relatively gentle,
requiring only movement apart of the arms or folding across the
chest with some compression thereof, possibly achieved by a hugging
action. In addition to hugging, the non-aggressive limb
manipulation and squeezing is often natural to a young child.
According to another aspect of the invention, a toy character
comprises an appendage which is flexible for movement by a child
between open and closed positions, a slow return motion producing
insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular,
resiliently compressible air bag with slow leak means, positioned
inside the appendage, whereby movement of said flexible body part
from one of the positions to another, compresses the air bag so
that the resiling action of the air bag will cause said body part
to return to an undeformed position while producing a simulated
natural gesture.
According to a further aspect, the invention comprises the insert
per se. The air bag may have a length which is at least triple the
minimum thickness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way
of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in cross-section,
of a toy character according to the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in cross-section,
of another toy character according to the prior art;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-sectional of a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the slow return
motion producing insert shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the slow motion
producing insert of FIG. 4, indicating the deformation thereof;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an alternative
slow return motion producing insert;
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of another
alternative slow motion producing insert, indicating the
deformation thereof;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrammatic cross-sectional views of
alternative slow leak valves of inserts;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-sectional of a toy elephant character according to the
invention;
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-sectional of a toy dinosaur character according to the
invention;
FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-sectional of a the head of a toy dog or bunny character
according to the invention;
FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-sectional of a toy snake character according to the
invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-section, of another embodiment of toy doll according to the
prior art; and,
FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in
cross-section, of yet another embodiment of a fantasy sausage
character according to the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 3, a life-size huggable doll has a body 1
comprising a porous, soft, cloth-like fabric 2 covering a soft
stuffing 3. The body 1 includes a pair of arms 4 extending from a
chest portion 5 and flexible between a stable open position
extending straight outwardly in opposite directions from respective
opposite sides of the chest portion and a closed together position,
folded across the chest as shown in FIG. 5 in broken lines. A slow
return motion producing insert 8, shown also in FIG. 4 and 5, and
comprising an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag 9
with a slow leak means 10 is mounted in the body to extend across
the chest portion 5 and along respective arms 4. The air bag 9
comprises an impermeable (air tight), skin 13 of suitable plastic
or rubber, penetrated by a slow leak valve 10 formed as a small
hole in a valve body, and is stuffed with resiliently compressible
synthetic fiber 14 or foam 16. Alternatively, the valve may simply
be formed by one or more small holes in the skin. The air bag is
generally straight in undeformed condition, locating the arms
extending outwardly, away from each other, as shown. The arms can
be readily deformed by a young child to a position extending across
the front of the chest with slight compression thereof, compressing
the air bag, the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly
so that they move apart, simulating a gentle request for a hug.
In an alternative embodiment of insert 8', shown in FIG. 6, the
stuffing is sponge rubber.
In another alternative insert 8" shown in FIG. 7, the air bag is
U-shape in undeformed condition, so as to locate the arms extending
forward from the chest in stable condition. The arms can then be
deformed by a child to an open position extending away from each
other on opposite sides of the chest, similar to the position shown
in FIG. 3, and will return relatively slowly producing a simulated
hugging gesture.
As the approximate height of this embodiment the doll is 18 inches
while the weight is only approximately one pound, it will be
appreciated that although in life like size the doll is still
sufficiently light to be carried by a young child. The slow return
motion producing insert is of very simple construction, virtually
undetectable when installed, highly reliable and inexpensive to
manufacture.
The force required to deform the doll is relatively gentle
requiring only movement apart of the arms or folding across the
chest with some compression thereof, possibly achieved by a hugging
action. In addition to hugging, the non-aggressive limb
manipulation and squeezing is often natural to a young child.
Alternative dual speed valve constructions are shown in FIGS. 8A
and 8B, respectively, in which valves 10' and 10", comprise small
holes in a flapper member 17 trapped at one edge over a larger
valve orifice in a valve body and, a loose piece member 17'
captured for limited float over a larger valve orifice. The
positive air pressure produced during compression of the air bag
will in each embodiment force the valve members away from the
larger valve orifice to permit easy and rapid compression while the
negative pressure of the resiling action will draw the valve
members over the larger valve orifice to permit only slow
return.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the toy is a simulated elephant
character 19 having an insert 18 in the trunk. The insert may be
molded in either coiled or uncoiled condition to which it will
return slowly after deformation to the other condition.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the toy is a simulated dinosaur
character 29 having suitably configured inserts 28 and 30,
respectively, in the mouth and tail. The insert 28 extends into
upper and lower jaws and is molded as shown to return slowly to a
gaping mouth position when deformed to a closed mouth position
indicated by broken lines. The insert 30 is molded in coiled
condition to which it will return slowly after deformation to the
straight position shown in broken lines.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, suitably configured inserts 39
are concealed in the ears of a simulated dog or bunny character 40.
The ears will uncoil slowly after being compressed and coiled.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a long and narrow insert 49
extends along a simulated snake character 50. The snake will uncoil
slowly after being compressed and coiled as indicated by the broken
lines.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the air bag 59 of the insert is
mounted to extend across the chest of the doll and along respective
arms with repective opposite ends of the air bag exposed form the
fabric covering of the body and formed as respective hands 61.
Operation is similar to that of the first embodiment.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the body 71 has the form of a
sausage with arms and legs and the air bag 79 substantially fills
the entire body. The air bag will slowly restore the body to the
upright position after deformation to the bent position shown in
broken lines.
* * * * *